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London, May 24. - Sir Howard Clark addressed the jury today in behalf of Oscar Wilde. Among those present was Lord Douglas of Hawick. When Wilde was called to the witness box he seemed to be utterly broken down. In answer to the questions put to him he related how he had been on terms of intimacy with the Marquis of Queensberry's family for years and entirely denied the charges made against him.

Sir Frank Lockwood, the Solicitor-General, began a severe cross-examination of Wilde which lasted over an hour. Wilde, it appeared, was in constant communication with Lord Alfred Douglas, who was in Paris. When Wilde was asked about the famous letters which he had written to Lord Alfred, he said that it was a beautiful way in which an artist would write to a cultured young man. Taking up the letter which Wilde had written to Lord Alfred praising his "red roseleaf lips" and "slim-gilt" soul that walked "between poetry and passion," Sir Frank asked the defendant whether he considered this letter to be decent.

Wilde replied: "Decency does not come into the question."

"Do you understand the meaning of the word?" asked counsel sternly.

"Yes," replied Wilde.

Wilde admitted that he had made repeated visits to the rooms of Alfred Taylor, where he met a number of young men. Wilde also admitted his intimacy with other young men.

Sir Edward Clarke briefly reexamined Wilde and then made his final address to the jury, asking it to save the defendant from the ruin of his reputation, which, he added, had been nearly quenched by the torrent of prejudice in the press. [Applause.]

Sir Frank Lockwood followed, but he had barely begun his address when the court adjourned for the day.

The Marquis of Queensberry, in an interview, is quoted as saying: "I do not wish to see Wilde further punished. He has suffered enough. I only want to keep the beast from my son. Everyone in London knows Wilde is no better than Alfred Taylor. I am willing to forfeit £1,000 to £1 Wilde is acquitted. There are many names back of this thing that say so."

Paris, May 24. – The Temps today publishes a telegram from Lord Alfred Douglas, dated Rouen, expressing regret at the fact that it was his brother, Lord Douglas of Hawick and not himself who had "corrected" their father.